With the start of the spring semester come some new volunteer opportunities at Madison House. Check out a list of programs below that are seeking a few new recruits for this semester!

Animals & Environmental Services

Hogs & Kisses
- Volunteers at Hogs & Kisses – Animal Farm Sanctuary help feed and care for rescued pigs, rabbits, and turkeys. They also help clean animal enclosures and assist with general farm maintenance tasks. Time commitment includes a weekly two-hour weekday shift, either 8am-10am or 4pm-6pm, with a 15-minute drive. Volunteers must have transportation to and from the site. To request a volunteer placement, submit an interest form or contact program director Leila Mann.
Houses of Wood & Straw
- HOWS was created in 2008 to improve the lives and well-being of outside dogs in Charlottesville and surrounding areas. Volunteers deliver dog houses and assemble fences/pens. Sometimes volunteers work events to benefit HOWS at the Ting Pavilion. To volunteer, contact program director Lily Lopez.
Casa Alma
- Casa Alma promotes access to local, sustainable living resources. Volunteers plant and harvest fruits and vegetables for community sharing. They also help maintain upkeep of community goat pens and chicken coops. Volunteer shifts are every Friday, 2pm-4pm, with a 10-minute drive. Transportation is required. To volunteer, contact program director Alexander Macey.
PVCC Community Garden
- The PVCC Community Garden program promotes sustainable living and increases regional food security. Volunteers planting and harvest crops, perform garden upkeep, and package crops for distribution. Shifts are available every Friday, 3pm - 5pm, and Sunday, 2pm - 4pm. There is a 15- minute drive to the site. Volunteers must have transportation. To volunteer, contact program director Alexa Graham.

Education & Youth Services

Big Siblings
- The Big Siblings program promotes children's health and well-being while strengthening communities. Volunteers mentor a specific child two to four times a month, serving as a role model and fostering a positive environment. To learn more, contact program director Lucas Stocks.
Cville Tulips
- Cville Tulips empowers refugee women to thrive in their community. Volunteers facilitate English lessons, provide childcare for families in attendance, lead youth activities (soccer, basketball, outdoor play, and art projects), and offer art programming for teen girls and women. To learn more, contact program director Paige Roeschenthaler.
Music Resource Center
- The MRC provides free music lessons, recording equipment, studio space, and a creative community for local Charlottesville middle- and high-school students. Volunteers give private music lessons, participate in impromptu jam sessions with MRC members, and help monitor the MRC front desk. Volunteer commitment is one-hour per week, days and times are flexible. The site is located at 105 Ridge Street in Charlottesville and is accessible by public transportation. To learn more, contact program director Fionette King.
SPLASH
- Swimming Protects Lives and Sparks Hope! This organization raises awareness of the need, and provides the motivation, systems, and tools to waterproof our community so that all children have basic swimming skills and are safe around water. SPLASH volunteers help coach children (usually young children) with little to no prior experience in an effort to help them develop skills for water safety. Volunteer commitment is one or more hours per week. The schedule is flexible! Typically shifts can be Monday through Thursday from 4:00-5:00pm or on Sunday between 2:30-4:30pm. Program sites include Crow Hill Pool and the ACAC Albemarle Square. To learn more, contact program directors Lily Liau or Leigh Bailey.
Superstarters Tennis
- Program volunteers lead elementary/middle school children through the fundamentals of tennis. They organize drills and fun games to engage students. Volunteer commitment is about one hour per week. Volunteers must have transportation to the program sites. To learn more, contact program director Lindsey Smith.
Virginia Discovery Museum
- The Virginia Discovery Museum is a small nonprofit museum that centers learning through play. Volunteers help enhance the learning experience of children attending the museum and aid in hands on teaching experiences and imaginative exploration that is community-centered. Volunteer roles include gallery worker (playing with kids, tidying up, helping out with programming) and front desk worker (answering questions, checking people in, and other administrative duties). Shifts are 2.5 hours once per week, Monday through Friday, 9:30am-12pm, 12pm-2:30pm, or 2:30pm-5pm. To learn more, contact program director Claire DeBusk.
Walking Bus
- Help local teachers get students to and from school safely. Volunteers walk local elementary students to and from Venable and Clark elementary schools. Shifts are on a flexible schedule with an expectation of at least 15 hours a semester. Volunteers sign up for shifts based on their availability at the beginning of each week. To learn more, contact program director Gillian Krupicka.

Health & Medical Services

Adopt-a-Grandparent
- Volunteers provide support and companionship to long-term care facility residents around the Charlottesville area. Volunteers serve in a wide variety of settings, from assisted living to rehabilitation to memory care. Volunteers make weekly visits to one of several local care facilities to engage in one-on-one conversations or group activities, form meaningful connections with residents, and gain insight into long-term care beyond traditional medical settings. To apply, submit a volunteer interest form. If you have questions, contact head program director Alison Song.
HELP Line
- HelpLine is a confidential, student-run mental health hotline for UVA students and our community. We're looking for compassionate students to join us as volunteers. Volunteers are assigned a weekly two-hour shift, and are expected to complete additional rotations, overnights, and exam shifts as assigned. Volunteers undergo training for one semester prior to being on the lines to assure they are equipped with the required knowledge and crisis response skills. To apply, submit a volunteer training interest form.

Human Services

Loaves & Fishes
- The Loaves & Fishes food pantry’s mission is to give food with kindness and compassion to anyone who seeks assistance while providing an opportunity for volunteers to help their neighbors. Volunteers help pre-bag food items in advance of distributions and deliver to clients onsite. Shifts are offered six days each week and range in length from one to four hours. To request a volunteer placement, please submit an interest form.
Meals on Wheels
- Meals on Wheels works to alleviate food insecurity by preparing and delivering hot & nutritious meals to homebound individuals in our very own community. Volunteer positions available this spring are for drivers on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday mornings 10:30am-12:30pm. To apply, submit a volunteer interest form.